In the midst of a historic season chasing back-to-back conference titles and an elusive College Football Playoff berth, SMU has locked up head coach Rhett Lashlee with a new contract extension. While specific terms were not disclosed by the private school, the multi-year deal aims to keep the 41-year-old offensive mastermind on the Hilltop for the foreseeable future.
Lashlee, who previously served as SMU’s offensive coordinator in 2018-19 under Sonny Dykes, returned to take the head coaching reins in 2023. He promptly led the Mustangs to their first American Athletic Conference championship since 1984 and has them positioned for even greater heights in 2024.
Mustangs Charging into ACC Era
SMU’s move from the AAC to the Atlantic Coast Conference this season raised both the stakes and expectations for Lashlee’s program. Thus far, the Mustangs have proven up to the challenge, standing as the ACC’s lone unbeaten team in conference play heading into pivotal late-season matchups with Virginia and Cal.
“We changed leagues and changed levels,” Lashlee told ESPN in an exclusive interview discussing his extension and SMU’s ACC ascension.
By the Numbers: Lashlee’s Rapid Rise
Lashlee’s impact in his second SMU stint is evident in the numbers. Since the start of the 2023 campaign:
- SMU boasts a 20-4 record, tied for 6th-best nationally
- The Mustangs claimed the 2023 AAC title, their first conference crown in nearly 40 years
- Lashlee improved to 27-10 overall as SMU’s head coach
The stellar results earned Lashlee a previous extension in November 2023, with AD Rick Hart declaring the school’s intent to retain him long-term. Just a year later, SMU is doubling down on that commitment as the program enters a new era of prestige in the ACC.
Stability Amidst Playoff Push
Lashlee’s new deal provides a steadying force for SMU in the heat of a College Football Playoff race. Currently 13th in the CFP rankings, the Mustangs’ fate likely hinges on winning out and getting help in the form of losses by other contenders.
Yet regardless of how 2024 ends, Lashlee has already taken SMU to new heights and rekindled memories of the program’s glory days in the early 1980s. His extension affirms that he’s the right coach to lead the Mustangs into an exciting future, with sights set on sustaining success in a new conference.
As the college football world fixates on the upcoming playoff push, SMU fans can take comfort in knowing the architect of their resurgence is sticking around. With Lashlee at the helm and the program trending decidedly upward, the Mustangs appear well-positioned to make noise in the ACC for years to come.
